LCSW Ethics and Professional Standards

Question 1

A client discloses they plan to harm a specific person. Under the Tarasoff duty-to-protect ruling, the LCSW must first:

Accepted Answer

Warn the identified potential victim and notify law enforcement

Answer

The Tarasoff ruling establishes that therapists have a duty to protect identifiable third parties from credible threats made by clients.

Question 2

Which NASW Code of Ethics standard specifically addresses the social worker's responsibility to maintain professional boundaries with clients?

Accepted Answer

Standard 1.06 – Conflicts of Interest

Answer

NASW Standard 1.06 addresses conflicts of interest, which includes maintaining appropriate boundaries to avoid dual relationships.

Question 3

An LCSW discovers they share a close mutual friend with a new client. The BEST ethical course of action is to:

Accepted Answer

Disclose the connection and assess whether to refer the client

Answer

Disclosing the potential dual relationship and collaboratively deciding whether to refer protects the client's welfare and upholds ethical integrity.

Question 4

Informed consent in clinical social work practice must include all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A guarantee of treatment outcomes

Answer

Informed consent never includes guarantees of outcomes because no practitioner can ethically promise specific treatment results.

Question 5

When an LCSW suspects a colleague is practicing while impaired by substance use, the NASW Code of Ethics directs the social worker to:

Accepted Answer

Address the concern with the colleague and report if necessary

Answer

NASW ethics call for first attempting to address the concern with the colleague directly, then pursuing formal channels if the problem persists.

LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker Practice Test